Self-Similarity and Scaling in Forest Communities

TL;DR

This paper introduces a universal, model-independent framework based on scaling principles to understand the distribution of tree sizes, energy use, and spatial patterns in tropical forests, aligning well with empirical data.

Contribution

It develops a unified scaling framework linking individual tree crown growth to overall forest structure, validated by empirical data and a solvable self-similar model.

Findings

Scaling of tree crowns drives forest structure when resources are fully utilized.

Predictions align with empirical data and a self-similar model.

Power law behavior range depends on resource availability.

Abstract

Ecological communities exhibit pervasive patterns and inter-relationships between size, abundance, and the availability of resources. We use scaling ideas to develop a unified, model-independent framework for understanding the distribution of tree sizes, their energy use and spatial distribution in tropical forests. We demonstrate that the scaling of the tree crown at the individual level drives the forest structure when resources are fully used. Our predictions match perfectly with the scaling behaviour of an exactly solvable self-similar model of a forest and are in good accord with empirical data. The range, over which pure power law behaviour is observed, depends on the available amount of resources. The scaling framework can be used for assessing the effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem structure and functionality.